Surgical cast cutter



' A. J. H000 SURGICAL CAST CUTTER Nov. so, 1948.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1945 gwumvkv Z-bur JJ-Cobd Nov. 30,1948.

A. J. HOOD SURGICAL CAST CUTTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1945awe/whom flribur JJ-flood WW v Patented Nov. 30, I 1948 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Arthur J. Hood, Reno, Nev.

Application January 13, 1945, Serial No. 572,683

This invention relates generally to surgical cast cutters for eastremoval and in particular represents a modification of the device shownin my co-pending application for United States patent, Serial No.515,641, filed December 27, 1943.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cast cutter which isconvenient to use and with a minimum of annoyance to the patient; thedevice nevertheless being constructed so that a relatively great cuttingor shearing action may be imparted to the cast being removed. 7

Another object is to provide, in a cast cutter having pivotallyconnected jaw operating handles, a unique stop arrangement operative tolimit relative movement of the handles in a jaw closing direction; suchstop, after limiting such movement, thereafter tending to cause the jawsto elevate at the forward end, preventing-digging into the patientsflesh under the cast.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cast cutterwhich includes cooperating jaws having a novel cutting edge arrangementoperative to assure a clean cleavage between the parts of the cast beingout.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensivedevice, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposefor which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cast cutter with the jaws closed.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing thejaws in open position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the cast cutter.

Figure 4 is a cross section on line l-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, the present embodiment of my cast cutter comprises a straight,elongated lower handle I which includes, in integral relation at itsforward end, a relatively narrow, elongated, parallel-sided cutting baror fixed jaw 2, said jaw forming the lower jaw of the device. The loweredge of the jaw 2 is substantially straight at its rear end portion, butthe forward end portion thereof curves gently upwardly to a point 3; thejaw being relatively thin at the point 3 for insertion between the castto be cut and the adjacent flesh of the patient. The upper edge of thejaw 2 is substantially straight j 4 Claims. (01. 30-173) 2 throughoutits length except at the forward end where it has a slight upwardcurvature. The handle l and jaw 2 are in substantial longitudinalalinement.

The jaw 2 adjacent its rear end supports a transverse pivot pin 4 onwhich a movable upper jaw 5 is vertically swingably mounted at the rearend of the latter; said upper jaw 5 being elon-- gated, comprising apair of spaced apart parallel, sides 6 which sides closely straddle thelower jaw 2 rearwardly of the forward end of said jaw 5. At its forwardend the upper jaw 5 includes a cross web I which connects the sides *6.

The sides 6 are exteriorly bevel sharpened along their lower edges, asat 8, while the cross web 7 is interiorly bevel sharpened at its loweredge as at 9; the sharpened edges 8 cooperating with the adjacent sidesof the lower fixed jaw 2 in shearing relation, while the sharpened edge9 of the cross web 1 cooperates in cutting relation with the upper edgeof the forward portion or tip of said jaw 2. As clearly shown, thesharpened edges 8 of the upper jaw 5 extend forwardly, as at H), to atermination some distance ahead of the cross web 1, and the jaw 2 is ofsufficient length to cooperate with said cutting edges for their fulllength, including the projection beyond said cross web.

In order to relieve the cut-out ribbon of the cast, as cut by thedevice, the sides 6, as well as the cross web I, of the upper jaw 5flare upwardly and outwardly, as shown.

The movable jaw 5 is forcefully actuated relative to the lower fixed jaw2, as follows:

6. An upper handle Ii, normally disposed in rearwardly and upwardlydiverging relation to the handle l,'is formed at its forward end with afork [2 which is straight-sided and opens toward the jaw 2. The jaw 2 isformed intermediate its ends with an integral, rigid and upstanding earl3 which projects into the fork l2 and is pivotally connected to thelatter by a cross pin [4. A link I5 is disposed at its lower end betweenthe sides of the jaw 5 intermediate the ends of the latter adjacent butto the rear of the ear IS; the link [5 being attached to the jaw 5 bymeans of a cross pin l6 which extends between said sides At its upperend the link l5 projects into the fork l2 on handle H and is connectedto said fork by another cross pin ll. When the jaws '2 and 5 are inclosed position, as in Fig. 1, the link I I5 is parallel to the ear l3,while there is a downwhich time the upper handle II is raised and swungforwardly. It will be seen that when the upper handle is lowered fromthe position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1 the upperjaw is forcefully swung downward in cooperative, cast shearing orcutting relation to the lower jaw 2. Upon occurrence of such relativecutting movement of the jaws the cutting edges 8, and the cutting edge9, efiectively shear a ribbon section from the cast, while theprojecting portions IQ of the sharpened edges 8 effect a positivecleavage of any shreds which may tend to remain connected to the cast atthe forward end of the device.

A downwardly projecting stop I8 is fixed on the under side of the handleI adjacent but to the rear of the link l5 and said stop is of a lengthto abut against the upper edge of the fixed lower jaw 2 when the jaws 2and 5 are in fully closed position. When the device is in use and afterthe stop I8 has engaged the jaw 2, further depression on the upperhandle l I by the operator causes the front end or nose of the device totend to rise, which prevents said portion of the device from digginginto the flesh of the patient when each ribbon section is cut andremoved from the cast.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful and upon which Letters Patent is desired: 1 a

l. A cast cutter comprising a lower handle, a lower jaw projectingforwardly in rigid relation from the lower handle, an upper jawcomprising a pair of spaced apart parallel sides which straddle thelower jaw, means pivoting the upper jaw adjacent its rear end on thelower jaw for cooperating, cast cutting movement, an ear projectingupwardly in rigid relation from the lower jaw intermediate its ends andbetween the sides of the upper jaw, an upper handle disposed above andin vertical alinement with the lower handle, a fork on the forward endof the upper handle, said ear projecting into the fork adjacent itsforward end, a cross pin pivoting said: ear in the fork, a rigid linkprojecting at its upper end into the fork to the rear of the ear,another cross pin pivoting the link in the fork, said link dependingfrom said other cross pin between the sides of the upper jaw, and aseparate cross pin pivoting the lower end portion of the link in saidlower jaw.

2. In a cast cutter which includes a lower tongue-like jaw, an upper jawcomprising a pair of spaced apart parallel sides straddling said lowerjaw, a cross web between said sides adjacent the forward end thereof,and means pivotally connecting said jaws adjacent the rear of the upperjaw for cooperative cast cutting movement; downwardly facing cuttingedges formed on the lower edges of said sides and cross web, and saidsides and cross web being formed with their inner faces inclinedupwardly and outwardly.

3. In a cast cutter which includes a lower tongue-like jaw, an upper jawcomprising a pair of spaced apart parallel sides straddling said lowerjaw, a cross web between said sides adjacent the forward end thereof,and means pivotally connecting said jaws adjacent the rear of the upperjaw for cooperative cast cutting movement; downwardly facing cuttingedges formed on the lower edges of said sides and cross web, the cuttingedges on said sides extending forwardly to a termination some distancebeyond the cross web cutting edge, and the lower jaw being of a lengthto cooperate with said side cutting edges for the full length thereof.

4. A cast cutter comprising a relatively straight first handle, acutting jaw fixed to the lower end of said handle and projecting at anobtuse angle therefrom to permit said jaw to be projected between thecast and the body of the wearer of the cast with the handle then anglingaway from the body of such wearer, a second cutting jaw pivoted to thefirst jaw for cooperative cutting action therewith, a second handle,linkage between the second handle and the jaws operable to move suchjaws together for cooperative cutting movement, said second handle lyingin a common operating plane with the first handle and angling away fromthe same when the jaws are closed together, a fixed stop on the secondhandle adapted to engage the first handle after the jaws have movedtogether to complete the cast cutting operation, whereby the entire toolmay then be rocked by the operator to lift the outer ends of the jawsaway from contact with the body of the wearer of the cast.

ARTHUR J. HOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The'following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

